Tag: slings

Babywearing and how it began

Willingness to carry the offspring began in the times, which we know only from books. At the time when we began to take our first steps in an upright posture, women began to carry their offspring in their arms. At this point, the roles of parents were divided, with mothers taking care of the child and fathers providing food and prosperity for the family. It did not take long for a man to realize that by constantly carrying a child his hands were occupied. To make daily chores easier and not to leave the baby alone, designs emerged to keep the baby on the back.
At the turn of the century, babies were carried in more and more comfortable ways. They were wrapped in sheets, woven shawls or square flags.
Time for convenience
A revolutionary invention was the introduction of baby carriages, which made it possible to take the baby completely off the mother’s hands. Initially, these were baskets with wheels attached. Strollers still have their uses today and are used by all parents.
Back to the past
Hundreds of years later, we are discovering the many advantages of carrying our offspring close to our bodies. Our awareness that we provide them with closeness, a sense of security and we have influence on their correct posture convinces us a lot. Nowadays we want to provide our offspring with the most comfortable conditions for life.
Polish fashion for sling, that is colorful, diverse and comfortable
Cloth slings had different names – chycki, odziewacki, szmaty or pÅ‚achty. The name depended on the region of Poland in which the sling was used. Children were also wrapped in pieces of clothing – they were worn in zapaska, i.e. large, embroidered aprons, or in thick woolen scarves; here the choice of material depended on the current season.
Children were carried by women and older siblings. Only newborns were carried in aprons and stockings, which were tied around the waist. In addition to their function of carrying, aprons were a great protection against the cold. Another type were hacks, or triangular slings. This model served a great function as a cradle, it was worn over the shoulder and the baby was placed in front or to the side of the wearer.
For a version of carrying the baby in front or on the back, wide, rectangular slings called rags worked great. This method allowed the mother to control what was happening to the baby, while the toddler could observe his surroundings.
Fabrics
The choice of cloth used to make the shawl was tied to the region and family traditions. They often took the version of a blanket, were multicolored and decorated with fringes, for example. Depending on the cut, shawls were woven from cotton, linen and hemp canvas or warm wool. They were usually rectangular in shape, or possibly triangular. Wearing technique was haphazard, not always adjusted to correct posture. Parents cared only that the child did not slip out of the sling.
The era of baskets
At one time, children were also carried in wicker baskets, which replaced the baby carrier of the time. During farm work, the baskets were placed in the shade or hung on trees so that the baby would not be disturbed. The baskets were light and handy.
Modern version
Today’s slings are an improved version of those we know from history or from our grandmothers’ stories. Nowadays baby sling is a popular option for carrying a baby. In Poland we have many advisers and experts in the practice of slinging. They differ from the old-fashioned ones in that they are much more versatile and knowledgeable, explaining how to carry a baby.

The bond between mother and child

The creator of the attachment theory – British physician and psychoanalyst John Bowlby states how important it is for the development and life of a child to build emotional bonds in the family. It has an impact not only on the well-being of our child now but also plays a big role in the psychological and emotional development in his later years.

The family environment plays a special role in the child’s social development. If we do not ensure proper bonding with the baby, in the future it will have a tendency to enter into inappropriate relationships, and his need for attachment will be unmet.

The bond between the mother and the baby is already formed in the mother’s womb. But the actions taken after the baby have already appeared in the world have a huge impact.

What is it about building a relationship? Touch, a sense of security, and meeting the baby’s needs are the conditions necessary for its survival.

Right after birth, it is the sense of touch that is most developed in a baby. “Through the skin” he gets to know the world around him, which is why hugging, stroking or carrying is so important, and nothing can handle our baby like a sling 🙂

Breastfeeding also builds relation. It ensures not only the emotional safety of the child but also its physical safety, it gives the small organism strength to face the world around it. The process  causes the release of oxytocin, which is called the love hormone, moreover, skin-to-skin contact has many other benefits. It stabilizes the child’s heart rhythm and breathing, and maintains optimal body temperature and blood sugar levels

Another crucial element is responding to your baby’s crying and needs. Crying or whining is the only possible way to communicate at first. Don’t ignore it.

Talking and singing. Singing not only calms the baby, but also has a huge impact on the development of his speech and imagination, and talking is the best way to support the baby’s development.

Playing with your baby and taking care of your own well-being. Researchers found that playing together gives the child the feeling of being loved as little as any other activity, and additionally eliminates aggression and reduces the tendency to the bad competition.

Motherhood is not one of the easiest tasks, so remember to also take care of yourself and your psychological comfort, because happy parents are happy children.